Ruthless Tycoon, Innocent Wife

His eyes narrowed. ‘My,’ he drawled, ‘what little bird has been whispering in your ear?’

‘It’s not a secret, is it?’ She didn’t lower her eyes from his in spite of the look on his face. ‘You were married, you’re now divorced. Hardly unusual in this age in which we live.’

‘Possibly not, but when I married my wife I expected it to be for life. I had no wish then to add to the somewhat sad statistics of the twenty-first century and will take care not to in the future.’

That was all she was going to get; she could read it in the cold blue gaze. And when Crystal chose that moment to come bustling into the room, Marianne had never been so glad to see someone in the whole of her life.

CHAPTER SEVEN

RAFE left the house twenty minutes later. Crystal had agreed she would consider the possibility of becoming temporary live-in housekeeper for a while for his father, but stressed this would depend on both Andrew’s wishes in the matter and how she felt she would fit into the household when she met him again. She had also suggested the issue should be raised naturally in conversation rather than Rafe mentioning it beforehand. It was the best he was going to get and a great deal more than he had expected.

When the taxi he’d called dropped him outside the picturesque thatched cottage he didn’t immediately go inside in spite of the drizzling rain. He stood in the shadows, cursing the fact he’d let his heart—no, not his heart, he corrected himself grimly, but a part of his anatomy situated somewhat lower—rule his head back there at Seacrest. It had been stupid and he was not a stupid man. Usually. Normally, having learnt a lesson once, he did not need to repeat it. And what he had learnt regarding the fairer sex was that they could be enjoyed, pampered, even worshipped as long as you took them at face value. You didn’t trust women or expect anything from them and then you were not disappointed.

He pulled the collar of his jacket more tightly round his neck but still drops of rain trickled down his back.

Of course he hadn’t given up on women, far from it. As a species they had a lot going for them and he thoroughly enjoyed sharing his bed and even his life with a beautiful woman for a while. But he always set out the rules of engagement before an affair began. When the time came for goodbye, as it inevitably would, it had to be quick and clean. No feminine manoeuvres, no bickering or name-calling, no regrets. He didn’t want happy-ever-after and if a woman did, then regretfully he wasn’t the man for her. Simple.

Why was he reminding himself of all this right now? And in the rain? One corner of his mouth twisted in a cynical smile. Because he’d let Marianne get under his skin, that was why. The thing was, she hadn’t conformed to the mental image he’d had of her before he had come to England, apart from being lovely enough to addle a man’s brains, that was.

Shaking himself, physically and mentally, he opened the front door of the cottage and walked into the hall. It was the very essence of a quaint English cottage. Because the previous owners had been emigrating to join their son and his family in Australia they had accepted an offer for all the furniture, which had been a bonus in the circumstances. Mary came bustling out of the door which led to the kitchen at the far end of the hall as he stood there taking off his jacket. She beckoned to him, motioning with a finger on her lips to remain silent.

‘What’s the matter now?’ he asked as he stepped into the kitchen, the aroma of fried chicken causing his nose to twitch appreciatively.

‘Three guesses.’ It was wry. ‘He wouldn’t stay in bed and he’s insisting Will and I book our flights tomorrow.’

‘He can insist all he wants.’

‘I know that, Rafe, and of course we wouldn’t dream of leaving him without a suitable replacement in situ, but you know what he’s like when he’s got the bit between his teeth. It’s going to make things terribly difficult over the next little while till you find someone. If you find someone,’ she added darkly. ‘He’s so against having a stranger in the house.’

‘I just might have solved that problem.’ Rafe’s eyes went to the massive stove. ‘When’s dinner going to be ready?’

‘Couple of minutes. Go through to the dining room. Your father and Will are already seated, but first—’ she caught hold of his arm ‘—what do you mean, you’ve solved the problem?’

‘Might have solved the problem.’ Rafe swiftly put her in the picture.

‘Oh, Rafe, that’d be marvellous. And this Crystal is coming round tomorrow?’

‘She and Marianne together, on the pretext of meeting Dad and discussing business. Of course they might not hit it off. It’s been half a lifetime since they knew each other and even then they weren’t friends as such. But it’s better than nothing.’

Mary nodded. ‘Have you warned her how cantankerous he can be since he’s got sick?’

Rafe grinned. ‘Do you think I’m crazy? I want the woman to take the job.’

He left Mary chuckling to herself and made his way to the oak-beamed dining room, where he found his father having a pre-dinner drink with Mary’s husband. The two men looked up as he entered the room and it struck Rafe how fit and healthy Will appeared compared to his father—one face tanned and bright-eyed and the other pale and washed-out. ‘You took your time.’ Andrew Steed scowled at the son who was his sun, moon and stars. ‘I thought you said you’d be half an hour or so.’

‘I was offered English tea, cake and muffins. How could I rush that?’ Rafe said lightly. ‘Marianne Carr’s housekeeper does an incredible fruit cake. But of course you know her, don’t you? Crystal Massey.’

Andrew nodded. ‘It was Crystal Brownlow when we were at school, if I remember rightly.’

‘Well, you’ll be able to talk over your school days tomorrow. She’s calling round with Marianne to discuss a few things regarding Seacrest.’

‘Good.’ Again Andrew inclined his head. ‘I’d be interested to see Diane and Gerald’s daughter, but the sooner we get going on this project, the better. Time’s money.’

It had been one of his father’s favourite sayings regarding business in times past, but of late Rafe hadn’t heard it. Now he noticed that, in spite of the exhausting journey his father had endured and the stress it had caused, his eyes were gleaming with the old enthusiasm he always displayed at the start of a new venture. It boded well. Rafe took the drink Will had poured for him. It boded very well indeed. And if Crystal would just play ball tomorrow and his father would curb the stubborn streak which had got worse since his illness, the next little while might not be as difficult as he had thought. Only he, and maybe Mary and Will to some extent, knew how deeply depressed his father had become as his independence and self-sufficiency had been savaged by his illness. The doctors in the States had intimated that his father’s state of mind could either make or break the treatment he was having, which had been one of the reasons he hadn’t liked the thought of him being so far from family and friends. But perhaps—just perhaps—the move hadn’t been such a bad thing after all.

Sunbeams danced off the mullioned windows of the old cottage as Marianne parked the car the next morning. In stark contrast to the day before, the morning was one of warm breezes and bright sunshine, the sort of weather that would have meant—had she been visiting her parents, as in the old days—a whole day on the beach just enjoying the sea, sand and sky. As it was…Marianne took a deep breath as she turned off the engine and smiled at Crystal. She had never felt so nervous in her life. Not only was she about to meet the man who could have been her father if her mother had felt differently all those years ago, but Rafe would be there, too. And, since that kiss yesterday, she hadn’t known if she was on foot or horseback. And she couldn’t share her confusion with anyone, which didn’t help. Normally, Crystal would have been her confidante, but the older woman was too close to this situation.

‘OK, sweetheart?’ Crystal smiled back at her. ‘Now, don’t forget what I said. If you don’t want me to take on the job of temporary housekeeper here until Rafe fixes a permanent solution, that’s fine by me. You’re my main concern. You know that, don’t you?’